‘A.D.’ & ‘American Odyssey’ Ratings Down In Week 2

It was Easter Sunday again last night for the Eastern Orthodox portion of America, but that didn’t help NBC’s A.D. The Bible Continues (1.7 in adults 18-49, 7.6 million total viewers), whose second installment at 9 PM fell -26% from its debut last Sunday. Night 2 of the original Bible miniseries on History slipped -18% from the first episode with 10.8 million viewers in Live+Same Day.

A.D. still logged the highest 18-49 fast national rating for an entertainment program last night as the broadcast networks continue to battle the doldrums of spring that bring depressed live viewership with other distractions that come with longer days and warmer weather. ABC’s Once Upon A Time (1.6), which airs in the daylight saving time-impacted 8 PM hour, was a close second with a 1.6. The fairytale drama slipped a tenth from its most recent original to a possible Live+SD low if there is no upward adjustment in the finals.

More good news for midseason ABC drama Secrets & Lies (1.3): While its lead-in, Once, and lead-out, Revenge (0.9), were both off by a tenth from their most recent fresh episodes, the newbie, which has been setting Live+3 highs, was even with its most recent broadcast.

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The news was not as encouraging for fellow new midseason drama American Odyssey (0.8) on NBC, which fell -27% in Week 2, not only making a renewal unlikely but also putting the completion of the series’ original run in doubt.

Meanwhile, ABC got Revenge fans buzzing about its fate with the promo at the end of last night’s episode teasing the show’s “last four episodes.” The serialized drama has been heavily on the bubble.

The Masters bled into primetime as it crowned another 21-year-old champion — 18 years after Tiger Woods’ memorable run. Jordan Spieth was as dominant on the field this year as his predecessor once was though he doesn’t seem to have the same drawing power yet. Woods’ 1997 set ratings records for The Masters, and he has remained the main attraction for TV viewership, his surprisingly competitive performance at Augusta no doubt contributing to the tournament’s TV ratings. (We will have those soon.)

As usual, The Masters’ dip into primetime (by 16 minutes this time) boosted 60 Minutes. CBS primetime ratings are scrambled, with golf overrun/60 Minutes drawing a 2.1 in 18-49 from 7-8 PM (60 Minutes last week: 1.0), 60 Minutes/Madam Secretary (1.5) from 8-9 PM (Madam Secretary last week: 1.1), Madam Secretary/The Good Wife (1.2) from 9-10 PM, The Good Wife last week: 1.0) and The Good Wife/Battle Creek (0.8) from 10-11 PM (Battle Creek last week: 0.7/2). CBS is projected to win the night in 18-49 and total viewers.

Fox aired originals of Family Guy (1.5, down -12% from its most recent original) and back-to-back episodes of just renewed Last Man On Earth (1.3 at 9 PM, down a tenth, and 1.3 at 9:30 PM, up a tenth). The small movement for Last Man is insignificant as the serialized comedy draws the bulk of its viewership from DVR and online.